Luang Prabang Getting There

[leisurely]

I am planning to go to Luang Prabang during the half term holiday (16-28/02) and would like to know the cheapest way to get there. I have checked out Thai but they only go as far as Vientiane. I could then go with Lao air or air Laos the rest of the way. In the back of my mind are some niggling memories of someone saying that Laos air was very dangerous. Could anyone set me right?

[tung tsz]

I am planning to go to Luang Prabang during the half term holiday (16-28/02) and would like to know the cheapest way to get there. I have checked out Thai but they only go as far as Vientiane. I could then go with Lao air or air Laos the rest of the way. In the back of my mind are some niggling memories of someone saying that Laos air was very dangerous. Could anyone set me right?

I was in Luang Prabang just before Xmas but I went by boat from Chiang Kong

I checked out Lao Air flights while there

They definitely have a twice weekly service to/from Chiang Mai

but heavily booked

and I seem to remember flights to BKK

If you don't mind discomfort you can get a slow boat (2 x 6 hr days) or speed boat (about 8 hrs in one day)

from Chiang Kong as I did (slow boat down and speed boat back)

Magnificent scenic trip and very cheap but extremely uncomfortable

unless you book an upmarket tour with private boat

tung tsz

[samtam]

Bangkok Airways fly there and they are perfectly OK. Great place to visit for a couple of days. (It's teeny tiny.) Don't drink the water. Everyone I know comes back with Delhi belly......even if you don't drink the water.

[Thaiquila]

A very lovely place. I think its good for a week if you really want to "chill" and you aren't bothered by thousands of backpackers (or you are one). Bangkok Air is always pricey. Lao Air is considered to have substandard safety. Name your poison. No Delhi Belly for me but I didn't eat street food even once.

Edited January 16, 2007 by Thaiquila

[johnnyk]

You've got nearly 2 weeks why not get to Vientiane then take the bus?

Its a great trip, lots to see instead of just flying over it.

Break the jorney in VangVieng, tube down the river, enjoy a spliff and continue on to LP the next day.

More of an experience than hopping onto a plane but up to you.

[Soju]

Being you have quite a bit of time, you might be bored spending the whole time in Luang Prabang only. And being you want the cheapest way, I'd recommend taking a bus to Nong Khai, then to Vientiane. Spend a couple days in Vientiane if you've never been there. Then get a bus from Vientiane to Vang Vieng and spend a couple days there, and then an onward bus to Luang Prabang. Optionally you can get a bus directly from Vientiane to Luang Prabang (about 11 hours total). Bus will be the cheapest, but for a bit more adventure, try bus in combination with a river route. Or if you want to get there quicker, fly to Udon Thani for cheap and get the bus from there. Any flights direct from BKK to anywhere in Laos are a bit expensive. If you want to come back a different route than you went, consider the river route mentioned by Tung Tsz either to or from Luang Prabang. From Chiang Kong you can easily get a bus to Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai, and from there by plane, bus, train, or whatever to BKK. An even longer route between Chiang Kong and Luang Prabang would be the dirt road that goes between Houy Xia (Laos city at the Chiang Kong border crossing) and Luang Nam Tha. From Luang Nam Tha there's a paved road to Luang Prabang via Udom Xai. Standard transportation (normal buses and boats) in Laos are very cheap, but also quite cramped and make lots of stops. You can frequently get a ticket on a van or VIP bus for little more and get there faster and not quite as cramped. Likewise for boats.

[leisurely]

My word, that was quick. When I put the dates in I didn't mean I wanted to go for that length of time, maybe four or five days. The problem with boats and buses, attractive though they are, is the length of time and amusing the daughters . I will give Bangkok air a look now.

Sincerely

Leisurely